Note: I'm Swedish and English is not my native language, therefore it may occur some faults.

Chapter 3: The Town

The day after Willie and Nellie had learned that their mother was expecting a baby they both woke up very early, got dressed and went down to the dining room where they parents were having breakfast.

"Good morning Nellie, Willie", said Harriet and smiled as the children kissed her. "Did you have a good night?"

"I couldn't sleep", answered Nellie and sat down. "I couldn't stop thinking about the baby."

"Neither could I", said Willie and took his place at the table. "And I had to go to the outhouse three times."

Harriet gave her son a firm look and turned to Nellie.

"Nellie darling, I have a favor to ask of you."

"What is it mother", asked Nellie.

"Well darling.. Eh.. I don't want you to tell the children in school about the baby."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want the town to know just yet. "

"Why not?"

"Because I say so", snapped Harriet.

"Is it because you're old?"

"Stop it Nellie", said Nels angrily. "Now Nellie, do you promise not to tell the children at school?"

"Yes father, I do", answered Nellie and smiled. "I promise not to tell the children at school."

Nels looked at Willie "The same goes for you young man. You are not to tell the children at school."

~*~*~*~

As Nellie and Wellie walked the short distance from their home to school, Nellie leaned down and whispered in her brother's ear: "Would you like to tell miss Beadle about the baby?"

"Nah, I don't want to do that", answered Willie. "Ma and Pa asked us not to say anything."

"Mother and father told us not to tell the children at school, miss Beadle is a grown-up."

Willie smiled: "Yeah, she is."

"And I am sure that mother and father wants us to tell miss Beadle about the baby."

"Why?"

"Because it is necessary for miss Beadle to know how many students that will be attending school in six years."

"Is it?"

"Of course it is. But if you don't want to tell her I will be glad to do it. I am sure that she will be so grateful that she will give me a big A on my latest essay."

"Nah, you don't have to tell her, I will!"

"You will?"

"Yes, this is my only chance to get an A!"

Nellie and Willie walked up the stairs and sat down on a bench behind the Ingalls-sisters, Mary and Laura.

"Miss Beadle", Willie said and raised his hand.

Miss Beadle smiled. "Yes Willie?"

"My Ma is going to have a baby."

Every head turned in Nellie and Willie's direction.

Miss Beadle looked surprised. "Is that really true?", she asked.

"Yeah, they told us about it last night", said Willie. "And they also asked us not to tell the kids at school."

"But Willie, you just did", said miss Beadle.

"Nah, I didn't", smiled Willie. "I told you and you're a grown-up.

The whole class, including Nellie, laughed.

"Nellie, Willie - Congratulate your parents from me", said miss Beadle. "Now Willie, stand in the corner."

"But I didn't do anything!"

"Stand in the corner Willie", answered miss Beadle calmly.

"But what about my A?!"

"Willie - corner - now!"

"Yes ma'am."

~*~*~*~

Caroline Ingalls, the beautiful mother of Laura and Mary, was on her way to Oleson's mercantile when her two eldest daughters (who were having their lunch-break) ran up to her.

"Ma, guess what", said Laura eagerly.

"No Laura, we shouldn't tell", said Mary.

"Oh Mary, everyone will find out sooner or later."

"Find out what", Caroline asked.

"You will not believe this Ma, but mrs Oleson is going to have a baby."

"A baby", said Caroline surprised. "Mary, is that true?"

"Yes Ma", Mary answered. "Willie just told the whole class. He and Nellie found out yesterday."

"Then I am very happy for mr and mrs Oleson", Caroline said and smiled. "There is nothing more wonderful than children."

"But Ma, are you not angry", asked Laura.

"Why should I be angry?"

"Don't you remember mrs Oleson calling you a broodmare after you had Fredrick?"

"Laura that was a long time ago."

"But Ma, this is your chance to get even. Why don't you go into the shop and call mrs Oleson a broodmare. That would be so much fun!"

"You should be ashamed of yourself Laura Ingalls". said Caroline angrily. "To call mrs Oleson a broodmare is not a christian thing to do. Do you understans that Laura?"

"Yes Ma", replied Laura and blushed. "I'm sorry Ma!"

"It's alright. Now, you two better get back to the other children."

~*~*~*~

Harriet was in the middle of counting the money in the cashbox when Caroline Ingalls walked into the mercantile. She quickly put the cashbox aside and straighted her apron.

"Hello mrs Ingalls", said she and smiled.

"Hello mrs Oleson", answered Caroline. "How are you today?"

"Oh very well", answered Harriet. "Very well indeed."

Caroline looked down on Harriet's stomach and was suprised that she had not noticed anything before. It was quite obvious that she was expecting a child.

"I am so happy for you and mr Oleson", said Caroline and smiled.

"Whatever for", asked Harriet.

"Well, because of the baby", answered Caroline.

Harriet became as white as a sheet.

"The baby", she stammered.

"Oh yes mrs Oleson. I do congratulate you! There is nothing better than children."

"Ehh.. well", said Harriet quietly.

"Mrs Oleson, are you alright?"

"Oh... yes.. ehh.. yes! But, how did you know?"

"Mary and Laura just told me"

"Really?"

"Yes, they had heard it from Willie. According to Mary he told the whole class this morning."

"He did! Oh, that st... He is just like his father, that's what he is!"

"Well mrs Oleson, if you are not having a baby I will pun..."

"Of course I am having a baby", interrupted Harriet. "But it wasn't my idea. Oh, godness no. It was Nels´. He has been begging me for years, but I have always said no. As I told you a few years ago Nellie and Willie are more than enough. But a few months back we talked about it and we made a decision to have another baby. We do have the means to provide for another child, not like the farmers who have more babies than they can afford. Now mrs Ingalls, what can I do for you?"

Caroline who felt quite insulted by what Harriet just had said took her basket from the counter and said: "There is nothing you can do for me mrs Oleson. I'm not in the mood to buy anything from a broodmare today."

Caroline turned around and left the shop.

"That's a typical farmer for you", muttered Harriet. "Stupid and ignorant!"

She picked up her skirt and opened the door to the livingroom.

"Nels, where are you", she called. "You come here now."

"Harriet, what is it", asked Nels and emerged from the kitchen. "Is something wrong?"

"Yes Nels, something is wrong. Your son has been telling the whole school about the baby!"

"What?"

"Yes, and the stupid Ingalls-girls told their mother and she just insulted me."

"That doesn't sound like mrs Ingalls."

"It sounds exactly like mrs Ingalls if you ask me! Oh Nels, the whole town knows. What am I going to do!"

"Well... nothing."

"Nothing?! Oh Nels, you are so stupid! I had planned to tell everyone at church on Sunday and I had prepared exactly how to tell them. I was going to tell them that the whole thing with the baby was your idea and that I only let you have your way because I knew that we had the money to provide for another baby, unlike those stupid poor dirt-farmers."

"Oh Harriet!"

"I want you to punish Willie for what he have done!"

"But Harriet!"

"Use the strap!"

"But Harriet, I am sure that he was just eager to tell them and forgot that he promised not to tell."

"I don't care", cried Harriet. "I have never been so emberassed in my whole life!"

~*~*~*~

The news about the baby spread quickly and throughout the next couple of days people came in to the Oleson´s mercantile to congratulate the expecting parents. To Harriet's great surprise everyone was awfully kind, wishing her the best of luck and health and when she went to bed, three days after Willie told the children at school. Harriet felt pleased and relieved with the fact that her pregnancy was no longer a secret.

To be continued...